Angela Merkel feels the backlash

Too strong, too successful, too arrogant — the Germans have been left in no doubt what their friends in Europe think about them through a growing backlash across the Continent.

Angela Merkel has been depicted in Italy this week with a Hitler moustache, in Britain as Salome receiving the head of Nicolas Sarkozy on a platter, and in France as a dominatrix with their president wearing a leash and little else.

The German Chancellor appears in continental publications wearing the spiked hat of a Prussian army officer, or carrying a whip to discipline weaker leaders.

A popular Greek television chat show ends with the host wishing his viewers a “merry German Christmas” while playing marching music, and the Spanish daily ABC has warned of the…